Madia elegans
Long-horned bee on flower head
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Madia
Species:
M. elegans
Binomial name
Madia elegans

Madia elegans is an annual herbaceous plant species in the family Asteraceae. It is generally known as the common madia, but there are several subspecies known by various common names.[1]

Description

Madia elegans is covered with short, stiff hairs. Glands are borne on stalks, especially near the flowers.[1] The showy flower varies in appearance across subspecies and even within subspecies. The leaves grow to 20 centimetres (8 inches) in length.[2] Blooming between April and October, several strongly scented, uncrowded, bright yellow daisy-like flower heads grow at the end of a slender green stem, each typically 3–5 centimetres (1+1⁄4–2 inches) wide.[2][3] The flower has numerous thin ray flowers, which close at night,[2] and several central disk flowers. It may be solid lemon yellow or have a maroon center.[2] Its fruits are achenes.

Taxonomy

Subspecies

  • Madia elegans densifolia - showy tarweed
  • Madia elegans elegans - common madia
  • Madia elegans vernalis - spring madia
  • Madia elegans wheeleri - Wheeler's tarweed

Etymology

The foliage of species in the genus has sticky hairs, hence the common name tarweed.[2]

Distribution and habitat

The plant is native to western North America from south-central Washington state to northern Baja California.[3][1][4][5] It may be found in dry open forest, disturbed areas and grasslands from low to high elevations.[3]

Uses

The achenes were historically used as food by Native Americans, including the Pomo and Miwok, who baked them or ground them into flour.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Giblin, David, ed. (2015). "Madia elegans". WTU Herbarium Image Collection. Burke Museum, University of Washington. Retrieved 2015-01-17.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Spellenberg, Richard (2001) [1979]. National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Wildflowers: Western Region (rev ed.). Knopf. p. 387. ISBN 978-0-375-40233-3.
  3. 1 2 3 Sullivan, Steven. K. (2015). "Madia elegans". Wildflower Search. Retrieved 2015-01-17.
  4. ↑ "Madia elegans". PLANTS Database. United States Department of Agriculture; Natural Resources Conservation Service. 2015. Retrieved 2015-01-17.
  5. ↑ Hogan, C. Michael (curator). "Madia elegans". Encyclopedia of Life. Retrieved 2015-01-18.
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